Planning Director

Planning Director opportunities are available with CIVILGEAR, LLC for experienced planning professionals interested in leading and expanding our planning and land use services.

This senior-level position is intended for a professional with 10+ years of experience in planning, land development, civil engineering, environmental planning, or a closely related field. The Planning Director will provide leadership throughout the planning and entitlement process while working directly with clients, municipalities, regulatory agencies, CIVILGEAR Project Managers, and other members of the project team.

The successful candidate will play an important role in the continued development of CIVILGEAR’s planning services and will have the opportunity to lead and grow the Planning business unit .

Position Responsibilities

As Planning Director with CIVILGEAR, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead CIVILGEAR’s planning, zoning, entitlement, and land use services for residential, commercial, mixed-use, and other land development projects.
• Evaluate properties during the initial stages of development to identify zoning requirements, land use considerations, entitlement needs, development standards, and potential project constraints .
• Manage and coordinate rezoning applications, comprehensive plan amendments, conditional and special use applications, variances, deviations, and other land use and entitlement approvals , as applicable.
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of planning reports, project narratives, justification statements, applications, presentations, and supporting documentation .
• Research, interpret, and apply municipal and agency land development codes, comprehensive plans, zoning regulations, ordinances, and development standards .
• Develop entitlement strategies and provide clients and project teams with guidance regarding approval processes, schedules, potential challenges, and development opportunities.
• Coordinate directly with clients, municipal staff, regulatory agencies, attorneys, architects, engineers, environmental consultants, contractors, and other project stakeholders .
• Represent CIVILGEAR and our clients at public hearings, neighborhood meetings, community meetings, workshops, Planning Commission meetings, City Council meetings, and other governmental or public meetings , including meetings that may occur outside normal business hours.
• Lead meetings and presentations with municipal staff, elected or appointed boards, clients, and members of the public as appropriate to the project.
• Coordinate closely with CIVILGEAR’s engineering and project management teams to integrate planning and entitlement requirements into the overall land development process.
• Provide technical review, quality control, mentorship, and guidance to planning staff and other members of the project team.
• Assist with establishing and improving planning procedures, standards, workflows, and quality-control practices .
• Support client development, proposal preparation, project scoping, budgeting, and identification of new planning and land use opportunities.
• Proactively identify project challenges and develop practical strategies to advance projects through the planning, entitlement, and approval process.

Qualifications

Candidates should possess:

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Public Administration, Civil Engineering, or a related field .
• 10+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in planning, land use, entitlements, land development, civil engineering, environmental planning, or a related field.
• AICP certification preferred , or the qualifications and willingness to obtain certification.
• Strong working knowledge of zoning, land use, entitlement processes, comprehensive planning, and land development regulations .
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and coordinate effectively with clients, governmental agencies, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong technical writing skills with the ability to prepare clear, persuasive, and technically accurate planning narratives, reports, applications, and supporting documentation.
• Strong verbal communication, presentation, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Ability and willingness to attend and lead occasional evening public hearings, community meetings, and municipal meetings as required.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, schedules, and deadlines while maintaining a high level of attention to detail.
• Experience with AutoCAD, GIS, and/or other planning and mapping software is a plus .

Leadership & Professional Growth

The Planning Director will have the opportunity to take a leadership role in the continued development of CIVILGEAR’s Planning and Land Use practice .

This position is intended for an experienced professional who can combine technical planning expertise with client service, project management, and leadership. The Planning Director will work collaboratively with CIVILGEAR’s civil engineering and project management teams to provide clients with coordinated services from initial due diligence and land use evaluation through entitlements, permitting, engineering design, construction, and project completion .

As the Planning business unit grows, this position will have the opportunity to assist with building the planning team, mentoring staff, developing client relationships, establishing internal standards, and expanding CIVILGEAR’s planning capabilities and market presence .

CIVILGEAR offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid vacation
• Paid holidays
• 401K and match
• Additional benefits based on position and experience

CIVILGEAR, LLC is a Drug-Free Workplace (DFW) and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) .

Position availability may vary based on current project workload, business needs, and candidate experience.